Update: Starting in May, 2012, Zenair Ltd. (Canada) is
supplying parts, kits and support worldwide for the STOL CH
801. Zenair has been working on a number of exciting updates
for the four-seat CH 801 utility aircraft and looks forward to
working with both new and existing STOL CH 801 customers.
Visit the "new" STOL CH 801 website:http://www.zenair801.info

With form following function, the STOL CH
801 kit aircraft looks like the sport utility aircraft it is designed to be. Not designed
to be just another pretty aircraft, the STOL CH 801 was developed to provide maximum
short-field performance while being easy to build and maintain.

The STOL CH 801 is a four-seat sport utility kit aircraft
based on the successful two-seat STOL CH 701 design
developed by aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz in the mid eighties. Since its
introduction in 1986, more than 400 short take-off and landing STOL CH 701 aircraft have
been successfully built and flown around the world, many being used for light utility
purposes.

"The two-place STOL CH 701 has
been a success story largely unnoticed in the U.S.," wrote EAA Sport Aviation magazine is its April
1998 issue. "More than 400 have been completed worldwide but only 100 of them
have emerged from homebuilder's shops in the U.S. Usually that ratio would be reversed,
but the real world use of the airplane has dictated otherwise. A significant number of
those being used in Africa and other under-developed areas of the world rarely or never
see a paved runway... or any sort of formal runway, for that matter."

STOL CH 801 Utility Kit Aircraft

The larger STOL CH 801 has been developed to expand the
utility of the STOL CH 701 model by increasing the useful load from 500 lbs. (225 kg) to
1,000 lbs. (450 kg.) while retaining the original design's short and rough field
capability. While the two designs share many similarities in appearance, they actually do
not share any airframe parts due to the significantly larger size of the STOL CH 801.

"With
400-plus CH-701s currently flying, Zenair / Zenith Aircraft have certainly established the
viability of this STOL design. Their newest aircraft, the CH 801, just expands that
design concept to four places, creating a true utility kit aircraft." EAA Experimenter magazine

Built of durable all-metal construction, the
STOL CH 801 is designed to provide the durability and ruggedness required of an
"off-airport" bushplane, while being quick and easy to build and maintain.
Developed as a true sport utility kit aircraft, the STOL CH 801 offers many modern
features for truly spectacular short-field performance and overall versatility.

The STOL CH 801 aircraft is at home on off-airport fields as well as
on city airports, providing both the versatility of a four-seat aircraft and the
capability of a cargo-hauling bush plane. Developed as a sport utility aircraft, high
speed performance has been traded for outstanding high lift features to offer true short
take-off and landing performance and spectacular slow flight characteristics, with a huge
cabin and payload. While many other aircraft designs may be faster than the STOL CH 801,
none offer more payload and short-field capability in an aircraft that is both as
affordable and as simple to build.

Simple systems make the STOL CH 801 easy to build and
maintain, while maximizing reliability. Its slow stall speed makes the aircraft easy and
fun to fly, even for the novice low-time pilot.

Designer Chris Heintz, a veteran aeronautical
engineer, explained: "As a two-seater the STOL
CH 701 has limited bushplane uses, and I've had constant requests for a larger version
of the 701 - an all-metal four-seater that was as simple to build and maintain as the 701
and that offered the same short and rough field capability."

Heintz pointed out that there are no plans of
discontinuing the smaller STOL CH 701 design, and
that the STOL CH 801 is simply a new product being added to his line of successful
designs: "While we've seen several four-seat utility kit planes introduced over
the past few years, these designs are not based on a proven platform and appear to be
fairly complex to build while also being cost-prohibitive for many mission applications.
Bush pilots want and need an aircraft that they can depend on and sport pilots want
to maximize the utility of their aircraft: Rather than just flying to buy the
proverbial $100 hamburger, the STOL CH 801 offers the payload and short-field capability
that few aircraft can offer, at a price that's very competitive. The 801 is a SUV [sport
utility vehicle] among other kit planes. While being an ideal recreational aircraft for
those wanting 4-seats, it also has the capability of a serious bushplane."

Development of the STOL CH 801 actually began in 1988 when
Chris Heintz started design of the four-seat aircraft for an offshore customer, but a
prototype was never completed when the customer postponed the order due to the lack of a
suitable powerplant for the design at the time (conventional aircraft engines were deemed
unsuitable by the customer due to cost and spare parts availability). The prototype
STOL CH 801 was first powered with a 180-hp Subaru automotive conversion, and is now
powered by the Lycoming O-360 (180-hp).

"In response to demand, I've developed the STOL CH
801 with auto-conversions as an option. Operators in remote parts of the world want
an engine that will take automotive fuel and they want spare parts availability.
Additionally, many modern automotive conversions minimize the engine cost while maximizing
performance thanks to lighter engine weights," stated Heintz. "With 180
hp, we achieve the performance you'd expect to find with a similar-size aircraft using
250-hp - that means an aircraft that's more affordable to own and operate"

New Kit Features - Same Low Price:
The
standard STOL CH 801 kit now includes many CNC
pre-cut and pre-drilled skins and components for a more precise finish
and easier assembly.